11 Bad Habits That You Don’t Realize Are Costing You

11 Bad Habits That You Don’t Realize Are Costing You

Want to know the biggest difference between people who are in shape and people who are overweight or obese? Or people who save a lot of money and those who don’t?

Habits.

Your bad habits are costing you time, money, and health. Here are 11 examples, along with some tips on how to change those bad habits into good ones:

1. Eating unhealthy foods.

This is one bad habit that may be slowly killing you. The Western diet of highly-processed foods is making you fatter, sicker, and more depressed. Eat more real foods like these instead, and you’ll look better, feel better, and live longer.

2. Failing to exercise.

Lack of exercise puts you at greater risk for chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. The key to getting into better shape is first making a commitment and then taking tiny steps every day to create better habits. Start with simply 5 minutes of exercise every day for a week, and see how much better you feel.

3. Reading gossip magazines.

William Penn said, “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” Gossip magazines may be mindless entertainment, but they’re costing you valuable time that you could be spending with people you love, doing work that fulfills you, or improving your health. So drop that copy of the National Enquirer and pick up a good book that stimulates your mind instead.

4. Not planning your finances.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your financial planning habits? Most of us are somewhere between a 1 and a 5. If you want to save more money, you need to have a plan. Here’s an easy first step: talk to someone who knows more about money than you do. If you don’t have money to hire a financial planner, talk to a friend or family member who is good with money. Ask for advice. And use this knowledge to start creating a financial plan for yourself. Just start somewhere.

5. Buying coffee.

I’m not saying you have to give up your caffeine kick each day. Coffee is actually good for you (sans the sugar and cream). Why not brew your own though? Let’s say you pay 5 dollars for a coffee each day. That means you’re dropping $1,825 each year. Buy your own, brew it at home, and save $1,000 or more over the course of a year.

6. Not maintaining your home.

This bad habit can cost you some serious bucks. While doing routine maintenance on things like your furnace, roof, yard, etc. can be a nuisance, it will save you money in the long run. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take care of your home.

7. Playing the lottery.

While chasing the Mega Millions might be a fun way to spend dollars, you might as well burn your money. Here’s why: your odds of winning most lotteries are slim-to-none. For the Powerball, you have a 1 in 175,223,510 chance of winning. Save your money and start a rainy-day fund with those dollars instead and put the money into savings or invest it in the stock market.

8. Smoking cigarettes.

A pack of smokes gets more expensive every year. If you smoke a pack a day and each pack costs you $8, you’re dropping nearly $3,000 a year on this bad habit. Not to mention increasing your odds of dying from lung cancer by 5 to 30 times.

9. Ignoring car maintenance.

A vehicle not maintained can quickly turn into a money pit too. Check your owner’s manual to make sure you get oil changes and other maintenance according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. It will save you money in the long run.

10. Getting road rage.

Listen, we all get frustrated by bad drivers. But road rage solves nothing and puts unnecessary stress on your heart. If you find your blood boiling behind the wheel, try these 10 gadgets that can help make driving a bit less stressful.

11. Not sleeping enough.

Up to 40 percent of people suffer from insomnia, and this habit can affect your health and work productivity big-time. Here are some common reasons why you sleep well and what to do about them.